Pot signal



H'. JOHNSON..

(Ne Model.)

POT SIGNAL.

Patented Apr. 26, 1898.

,0 ee, Je ,auf n l wt ncnms Pzfzis cc A Moreau@ wAsmNoToN, n, c

UNITED STATESi PATENT @tripa HENRY JOHNSON, OF RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY.

POT SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,852, dated April26, 1898.

Application filed February 25, 1897. Serial No. 624,910. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY JOHNSON, of Rahway, in the county of Union andState of New Jersey, have invented a new and usefnllmprovement in PotSignals, of which the following is a specilication.

lily invention relates to an improvement in a type of signal commonlyknown in the artas pot signals, in which a lantern-box providedwith`different-colored lenses is sup- 2 is a similar view showing the signalthrown in a direction to present a diderentlens to the approachingtrain-for example, the safetysignal. Fig. 3 is a view of thesignal-support in front elevation or in a plane at right angle to theposition shown in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section throughthe line 4 e of Fig. l, and Fig. 5 is a vertical section in the plane ofline 5 5 of Fig. 4.

The supporting-stand preferably consists of a hollow tube A, of iron orother suitable metal, provided intermediate of its ends with a diaphragma and surmounted by a cappiece a', through which the standard forsupporting the signal-head is permitted a vertically-reciprocatingmovement. Within the hollow support A there is fixed a hollow cylinderor section of a cylinder B, having in its curved surface a winding slotl), terminating at its upper and lower ends in straight portions b b2,parallel with the axis of the cylinder B. The winding portion b of theslot extends in the present instance one-quarter of the distance aroundthe periphery of the cylinder B for the purpose of imparting to thesignal-head a quarter-turn.

The signal-head comprises a box C for containing alantern and lenses(denoted by D D) facing in directions at an angle of ninety degrees withrespect to one another, the former,

'D, representing in the present instance the danger and the latter, D',the safety color.

The box C, with its lenses D D, is supported upon a standard or shaft E,which extends downwardly through the cap-plate c to a point within thefixed cylinder B, where it has fixed `thereto a foot-section E. Theshaft E and its foot-section E' are preferably both formed lhollow, andthe foot-section E' is iixed to the `lower end of the shaft E by meansof a reduced upper end e, adapted to extend within `the lower open endof the shaft E and secured in position either by means of crosspins c orany other well-known or suitable fastening. The foot-section E' hasfixed to it and projecting from its side a spindle e2, on which isjournaled an antifriction-roller c3, adapted to loosely fit within andfollow the winding slot b in the fixed cylinder B as the shaft E withthe signal-head thereon is raised and lowered.

The foot-section E is further provided with laterally-extended lugs e4at intervals thereon, adapted to rest upon the diaphragm a of thesupport A when the signal is in its normal position, while the lowerportion of the footsection E extends downwardly through the diaphragm aand is swiveled at its lower end to the rear end of an operating-arm f,carried by the signal-operating shaft F.

The swivel connection between the foot-section E and the arm f is formedby means of an extensible linlr G, pivotally secured at its lower end tothe free end of the arm f and at its upper end provided with a ball-headg, held within a socket-piece g', screwed onto the lower end of thefoot-piece E'.

For the purpose of keeping the parts well lubricated the foot-piece E isprovided with an oil-hole e5 in its side and another, e, at its lowerend, which permits the oil received within the section E' to passdownwardly within the socket-piece g' to lubricate the swiveljoint.

The shaft F is journaled in suitable bearings tixed to the side of thepedestal A and carries a grooved operating-wheel f for the reception ofthe signal-operating cords l-I H. The wheel f has located thereon astop-arm f2, which is intended to come in contact with the base of thepedestal A to arrest the rotary IOO movement of the wheel and hence thelifting of the signal-head, and thereby taking the shock which mightotherwise be taken by the shaft E 0r by the roller e3 in the Windinggroove.

In operation when the operating-cord H is drawn in a direction to rotatethe Wheel f' from left to right the arm f will lift the shaft E and thesignal-head thereon, and as the said shaft is lifted it will be rotateda quarterturn by the engagement of the roller e3 in the Winding grooveb, so that when the Wheel f' is brought to a stop by the arm f2 the lensD will have been brought into the position previously occupied by thelens D to give a different signal to an approaching train. W hen it isdesired to return the signal to normal, with the lens D toward theapproaching train, the operating-cord maybe slackened, and the signalwill return to its normal position under the influence of gravity, or itmay be assisted by the pull upon the operating-cord H'.

If the cord I-I should chance t0 break, the signal would promptlyreturnto danger and Whether in the position of safety or danger, anycontracting of the operating-cord by change in temperature will not aectthe position of the signal, nor will it produce undue strain upon theparts, since the shaft E Will be permitted to move vertically inthestraight extensions b b2 of the slot Without imparting any rotarymovement to the signal -head. This verticaliy-reciprocating movementprovided for at the ends of the Winding groove is ample to prevent thesignal from becoming unintentionally displaced by the changes intemperature, and the arrangement as a Whole is simple, durable, andeffective, the mechanism for turning the standard E being Well housedagainst injury or obstruction.

The' signal-head has the further advantage of being presented in adifferent position vertically when set at safety from that which itoccupies when set at dangen 1. In a signal,` a vertically-movable shaft,a signal-operating shaft having an arm connected at its free end to thevertically-mov able shaft, an operating-Wheel carried by thesignal-operating shaft for actuating the arm to raise and lower thekvertically-movable shaft and ay stop-arm carried by the said Wheel fordetermining the limit of the upward movement of the vertically-movableshaft and protecting the same from shocks, substantially as set forth.

2. Thecombination with the vertically-movable shaft and the means forelevating it, of a cylindrical shell fixed to the shaft-support an'dprovided with a Winding groove having a f straight portion at its lowerend and a laterallyprojecting pin carried by the shaft in position toenter the groove to rotate the shaft, substantially as set forth.

HENRY JOHNSON.

Witnesses: f

FREDK. HAYNES, M. E. FLETCHER.

